Piano & Keyboard Workshop 2.0

Rating:
Summary: Put it down, walk away...
Review: I had previously used Jump Software's Piano Discovery System (now out of business). But I got a new keyboard, and thought that I would get new tutor software to go with it. Well, this was on the shelf at my local electronics superstore, and it was THE MOST EXPENSIVE package. However, I could not imagine a worse package. I would like to point out that, unlike other reviewers, I had no installation problem on WinXP Pro. First of all, this is NOT for beginners. For example, the first lesson never even tells you which hands or fingers use to use. There are ABSOLUTELY NO VIDEOS anywhere. All this program does is is load MIDI files, play them back, and grade you as you play it. That is it! I would expect better from shareware. Even the text instructions do not tell you anything about how to read music, the difference between a half-note and a quarter-note, which fingers to use, etc. So this was a complete waste of $40!

For a point of reference, Piano Discovery System had recorded voices talk you through each lesson. It had videos of a person playing the music properly. It had a couple of games which were actually fun to play. Unfortunately, the company is out of business, and the software does not work on XP.

Rating:
Summary: Please Read the Fine Print!
Review: Okay, I can't say whether version 2.0 stinks or not. I believe I may have a previous version, but can't say for sure. All I know is that my Magix Piano and Keyboard Workshop program didn't even install properly, since I use Windows XP. I checked the company's web site and there is only one vague reference to this program, and no patches available. When I bought the software, it said it is for Windows OS. Copyright is year 2001. Go figure. All I can say with certainty is to MAKE SURE YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION IS SUPPORTED IN BEFORE YOU BUY THE SOFTWARE! Otherwise it is an abject waste of money. I wrote to Magix and informed them that I would post a negative review of their product until such time that they find someone in software development to create a patch for XP users. If anyone else out there has had better luck than me, more power to you!

Rating:
Summary: Please Read the Fine Print!
Review: Okay, I can't say whether version 2.0 stinks or not. I believe I may have a previous version, but can't say for sure. All I know is that my Magix Piano and Keyboard Workshop program didn't even install properly, since I use Windows XP. I checked the company's web site and there is only one vague reference to this program, and no patches available. When I bought the software, it said it is for Windows OS. Copyright is year 2001. Go figure. All I can say with certainty is to MAKE SURE YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM VERSION IS SUPPORTED IN BEFORE YOU BUY THE SOFTWARE! Otherwise it is an abject waste of money. I wrote to Magix and informed them that I would post a negative review of their product until such time that they find someone in software development to create a patch for XP users. If anyone else out there has had better luck than me, more power to you!

Rating:
Summary: MAGIX PIANO & KEYBOARD WORKSHOP 2ND EDITION
Review: THE RATING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS ZERO STARS. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS PUT OFF WITH NO REPLY MY HOME PHONE IS 703 685 4935. WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A BACKUP DISC MY COMPUTER SAID THAT THERE ARE ERRORS ON THE DISK. THE SAME RESPONSE WITH TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS. I WASTED TWO BLANK CDs. I WANT A PROGRAM DISK WITH NO ERRORS. MICROSOFT SAID THAT IT DOES NOT RECOGNISE ANY OF THE "E" MAIL ADDRESSES I COPIED FROM THE INSTRUCTION BOOK. THE PROGRAM HANGS UP ON WINDOWS 98. IT MAY BE DUE TO THE ERRORS ON THE DISK REPORTED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A BACKUP. NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT HELPFUL. THE OTHER THREE PROGRAMS I BOUGHT FROM AMAZON ARE ALL WORTH FIVE STARS BUT I REGRET HAVING BOUGHT THE MAGIX PROGRAM.

Rating:
Summary: MAGIX PIANO & KEYBOARD WORKSHOP 2ND EDITION
Review: THE RATING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS ZERO STARS. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS PUT OFF WITH NO REPLY MY HOME PHONE IS 703 685 4935. WHEN I TRIED TO MAKE A BACKUP DISC MY COMPUTER SAID THAT THERE ARE ERRORS ON THE DISK. THE SAME RESPONSE WITH TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS. I WASTED TWO BLANK CDs. I WANT A PROGRAM DISK WITH NO ERRORS. MICROSOFT SAID THAT IT DOES NOT RECOGNISE ANY OF THE "E" MAIL ADDRESSES I COPIED FROM THE INSTRUCTION BOOK. THE PROGRAM HANGS UP ON WINDOWS 98. IT MAY BE DUE TO THE ERRORS ON THE DISK REPORTED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A BACKUP. NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT HELPFUL. THE OTHER THREE PROGRAMS I BOUGHT FROM AMAZON ARE ALL WORTH FIVE STARS BUT I REGRET HAVING BOUGHT THE MAGIX PROGRAM.